Method and apparatus for handling sliver



May 7, 1968 J. H. SELBY ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SLIVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1964 Rf BY 0 N ENTORS CA 215? DER/CK J k/HNN/NG HTT'ORNEVS May 7, 1968 J. H. SEL BY ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SLIVER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1964 INVENTORS z/QCK hf $51.89

BY FkEDER/CK JC/fi/VN/N 41145;), ,fiwal, 1 W ATToR/vs as Fig 7 United States Patent 3,381,342 METHQD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING QUIT/ER Jack H. Selby, Chagrin Falls, and Frederick J. Januing, Strongsville, (J hio, assignors to The ilarner & Swasey Company, tllleveiand, (This, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. it), 19364, Ser. No. 343,666 13 Claims. (til. 19159) The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling sliver and in particular, to a method and apparatus wherein containers are successively filled with sliver and the sliver is separated when a predetermined length thereof is in one container so that the sliver may then be delivered into another container.

Known methods and apparatuses for delivering sliver into a container provide for supporting a plurality of containers which are successively moved into sliver receiving position. In the known methods and apparatuses the sliver is separated when one container is filled so that the sliver may be delivered to the next succeeding container. The known methods and mechanisms used to effect the separation of the sliver have been cumbersome and in many instances manual separation of the sliver is necessary.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method and apparatus for delivering sliver into successive containers and which is highly reliable, efficient, and rapid in operation.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved sliver handling apparatus wherein a sliver separating mechanism is compactly supported between a sliver feeding means and a container support and which is of simple, but durable construction, reliable in operation, and which is automatically operable in a rapid manner to break or separate the sliver.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved sliver handling apparatus for delivering sliver into a container which when filled is moved out of filling position and having a sliver separating or breaking mechanism including a member movable transversely of the sliver and through the sliver so as to separate or break the sliver automatically when the con tainer is moved from filling position.

It is another object of the invention to provide a separating or breaking mechanism of novel and improved construction for breaking or separating sliver or other strands of material and including clamping means and a breaker member reciprocably movable in a direction generally transverse to the sliver or other strand of material and which upon movement actuates the clamping means to clamp the sliver or other strand of material and separatcs or breaks the sliver or other strand of material.

It is another object of the invention to provide a separating or breaking mechanism as defined in the preceding object in which the clamping means comprises a pair of clamp members which are constructed in a manner to insure clamping of the sliver or other strand regardless of the position or angular disposition of the sliver or other strand relative to the clamp members or path of movement of the breaker member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a separating or breaking mechanism for separating or breaking sliver or other strands of material and having a reciprocably movable breaker member of a saw-toothed edge construction for spreading the sliver or other strand of material to thereby facilitate separating or breaking thereof.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved separating or breaking mechanism for separating or breaking sliver or other "ice strands of material wherein a plurality of air jets are located adjacent clamp members to which air under pressure is supplied to blow off the ends of the sliver or other strands of material left on the clamp members following the separating or breaking operation.

The invention resides in certain constructions, combinations and arrangement of parts and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sliver handling apparatus with parts broken away and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of part of the preferred embodiment of the sliver breaking mechanism;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of another part of the preferred embodiment of the sliver breaking mechanism;

FIGS. 5-7 are partial side elevational views showing difierent operational positions of the parts of the sliver breaking mechanism shown in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a sliver yardage counter of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a control valve for the sliver breaking mechanism; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic electrical diagram illustrating a part of the circuitry employed in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 in the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises in general a sliver handling apparatus, designated generally by reference character A. The sliver handling apparatus comprises a sliver coiling means or feeding means 11 which delivers coiled sliver in a container or can supported in a sliver receiving position by a container support in the form of a can doffer mechanism B and which is operable to automatically move or index a can away from the coiler means 11 when a predetermined amount of sliver has been delivered to the can. The sliver handling apparatus A further includes a sliver separating or breaking mechanism C suitably supported by a support therefor in the form of a housing 12 disposed between the coiler means and the container supported by the can doffer mechanism. The sliver separating mechanism is operable to automatically separate the sliver upon a can containing a predetermined amount or length of sliver being moved away from the coiler means 11.

The sliver handling apparatus A includes a housing 13 containing a gill box, which may be of conventional construction, for combing sliver. The combed sliver is delivered to the coiler means 11 which comprises a coiler head of conventional construction and adapted to coil sliver as it advances therethrough. The sliver is advanced through a passageway 15 in the housing 12 into a suitable container 22 supported beneath housing 12 in sliver receiving position, by the can doffer mechanism B.

In the illustrated embodiment, the can doffer mechanism is capable of supporting three cans, although any other can supports could be used which are capable of supporting any number of cans. Each of the cans is mounted on a rotatable turntable 23, which is rotatably mounted on a movable or indexible support 24. The movable support in turn is rotatably mounted on a base 25. The provision of the turntables 23 enables the cans to be oscillated while receiving sliver from the coiler means 11. The can dotler mechanism is operable so that when a can has been filled with a predetermined length of sliver delivered by the coiler means 11, the movable support 24 is automatically rotated or indexed to displace the filled can from beneath the coiler means 11 and position an empty can beneath the coiler means 11 to receive sliver therefrom.

Any suitable drive means may be provided for effecting rotation of the indexible support 24 and turntables 23 and may be housed within support column 26 and the base 25. The drive means for moving or indexing the support 24 in the preferred embodiment includes an electric motor which is operated in a manner to be more fully explained hereinafter. The particular drive means for rotating the turntables and the indexible support form no part of the present invention and are not described in detail. However, a suitable drive means that may be employed is disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,028,637, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

As the sliver is delivered to the container, a yardage counter means 35, best shown in FIG. 8, and of conventional construction is employed to count or sense the length of sliver delivered to the coiler means 11. The yardage counter is located within the top portion of housing 13 and comprises a rotatably supported wheel 36 carrying a trip member 37. The wheel is adapted to be rotated by the frictional engagement of the sliver as it moves therepast. Associated with the wheel is a switch 38 which is actuated or closed by the trip member upon each revolution of the wheel. The switch is operatively associated with a yardage counter control 39 shown schematically in FIG. and which is settable to send a control signal upon the switch being actuated a predetermined number of times to energize the indexing means which indexes the filled can of sliver from the coiler means and moves an empty can beneath the coiler means 11, and in a manner to be more fully explained hereinafter.

When the support 24 is indexed the separating mechanism C is actuated to separate the sliver strand. To this end the movable or indexible support 24 is circular and has three trip members secured to the outer periphery thereof at equally spaced intervals or approximately every 120. The trip members are adapted to actuate a conventional spring biased switch means 31 located on the base 25 adjacent the movable support. The switch means actuates the separating mechanism C as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

As stated hereinabove, the sliver separating mechanism C is housed within the cylindrical or disc-shaped housing means 12. Housing means 12 comprises generally circular top and bottom walls or plates 42 and 43 and a cylindrical side wall 44 interconnecting the top and bottom plates. The housing means 12 is suitably supported at one side by the column 26 and at its midportion by hollow support post or member 45, which member is rigidly secured to the base 25. Since the housing 12 is disposed immediately above the cans, it serves to hold the sliver in the filled cans.

The bottom plate 43 of the housing 12 has a radially extending slot which is positioned so that when a filled can of sliver is indexed remote from the coiler means 11, it will be disposed to one side of the slot and an empty can indexed beneath the coiler means and disposed on the other side of said slot. As shown in FIG. 2, a filled can 22a of sliver has been indexed out of sliver receiving position and can 22 has been indexed into sliver receiving position. After the indexing operation, a certain length of sliver, designated by numeral 52, hangs over the edge of the previously filled can 22a and extends to the empty can 22 positioned beneath the coiler means 11. The sliver 52 that extends between the two cans extends in a direction generally transverse to the slot 50, as can be seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The sliver separating or breaking mechanism C is automatically operable upon completion of the indexing operation to separate or break the sliver 52 extending between the two cans and in a manner to be explained hereinafter.

The sliver separating or breaking mechanism C com- 4: prises in general a support means 55 having a downwardly extending separating or breaker member 56 secured thereto which extends through and beneath the slot 50. The support means 55 is adapted to be reciprocated through an operating cycle comprising a work stroke during which the member 56 engages and carries the sliver radially outward of the support housing 12 and a return stroke by power means including a cylinder and piston arrangement 57 operatively connected to the support means 55. As the support means 55 moves through its work stroke, it engages and actuates a clamping means 6% to clamp the sliver carried by the breaker member from further movement with the breaker member and then separates or breaks the sliver, As the support means 55 moves through its return stroke, pressure air is supplied through air jet means 61 disposed adjacent to the clamping means for the purpose of blowing oil? the ends of the sliver left on the clamping means as a result of the sliver separating or breaking operation, as will be described hereinbelow.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the support means 55 comprises a support block 65 rigidly secured to a piston rod 66, which rod is connected to the piston of the cylinder and piston arrangement 57. The support block has a vertical slot 67 formed therein in which the breaker member 56 is secured. The breaker member includes a downwardly extending saw tooth edge 56a and extends through and beneath the slot 50. The saw tooth edge 56a of the member 56 engages and spreads the sliver, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. A guide block 68 is rigidly secured to the front surface 70 of the support block. The guide block has a pair of pins 71 which extend laterally beyond the vertical sides 72 of the support block and for reasons which Will appear hereinafter. The support block also has secured to the top portion thereof a pair of rods 75 which extend laterally beyond the vertical sides thereof. Each of the rods at its outer extremity has an ear or enlarged portion 76, and for reasons which will appear hereinafter.

A guide means 77 comprising a pair of elongated members 80 disposed on opposite sides of the slot 50 adjacent to the clamping means 60 and rigidly secured to the bottom plate 43 in any suitable manner is provided for guiding the support means 55 as it reciprocates through the latter portion of its work stroke and the initial portion of its return stroke. The guide members 83 contain an elongated groove 81 in which the laterally extending pins 71 of the guide block 68 are slidably received. The provision of the guide means 77 insures that the support means 55 will be properly directed during the latter portion of the work stroke.

The power means for moving the breaker member 56 comprises a conventional double acting piston and cylinder arrangement 57 that is selectively supplied with a pressure fluid from a suitable source by conduits 82 and 83 to the opposite ends thereof. The breaker member moves along a path between a first retracted position, as shown in FIG. 2, and a second actuated or fully extended position, as shown in FIG. 7. The piston cylinder arrangement 57 includes a cylinder 84 suitably mounted to the top side of plate means 43 remote from the clamping means 60 and is in radial alignment with the slot 56. The hollow support post or member 45 contains a radial slot 87 formed in the upper wall portion thereof and disposed adjacent to the support means 55 to enable the breaker member 56 to be conveniently housed therein when the support means is in its retracted position, as shown in the dotted line outline of FIG. 3. This insures that the breaker member 56 will not interfere with the cans or sliver during the indexing thereof.

As noted above, upon actuation of the piston cylinder arrangement 57, the breaker member 56 engages and carries the sliver toward the clamping means 6% and the clamping means operates to clamp the sliver against further movement with the breaker member 56. The clamping means 60 which clamps the sliver comprises a pair of elongated clamp members 90 extending generally length-wise of and on opposite sides of the slot 50. The clamp members are pivotally mounted to mounting blocks rigidly secured to the top side of plate means 43 by pins 91 which are rigidly secured within the mounting blocks 92 and extend through a transverse aperture formed within the clamp members. The clamps have a rear or right hand end portion 93, as viewed in the drawings, which extends upwardly above the plate member and which is adapted to be engaged by the ears 76 carried by the support block 65 of the support means 55, an intermediate straight portion 94 extending generally parallel with the radial slot and a front or left hand end portion 95 which converge toward the radial slot 50 and form an obtuse angle with the intermediate portion. The plate 43 has a pair of complementary openings 100 formed therein through which the front portion 95 and the major portion of the intermediate portion 94 of the clamp members pivot. A tension coil spring 102 its inner end secured to the pin 91 and its outer end secured to the clamp member 90 is provided to normally bias the clamp members to their non-clamping position, that is, when the entire clamp member 90 is disposed in the position shown in FIG. 4.

The clamp members 90 are adapted to be actuated to their clamping position by actuating means comprising the cars 76 of the support means in response to movement of the support means 55. When the support means 55 is reciprocated through its working stroke or to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 5-7 of the drawings, the ears 76 engage the rearwardly and upwardly disposed portions 93 of the clamp members to pivot the clamp merribers 90 counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 5-7. As the clamp members pivot, they move through the complementary openings formed in the plate means 43 and clamp the sliver carried by the breaker member 56 on the under side of the plate 43. The sliver is separated or broken either immediately upon being clamped or slightly thereafter as the breaker member 56 continues to move to its actuated position, shown in FIG. 7, even though the clamp members 90 prevent or block movement of the sliver therewith, thereby causing the breaker member 56 to move through the sliver. The ears 76 during the latter portion of the Working stroke, that is, after the sliver is clamped, will slide on the rearward portion 93 of the clamp member 90, which portion is horizontally disposed in the clamping position, as shown in FIG. 7 and holds the clamp members in clamping position.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the sliver overhang 52 is disposed between the cans 22a and 22 and extends transverse to the radial slot 50. When the support means 55 is reciprocated on the working stroke and carries the sliver toward the clamping means 61' the sliver is disposed or positioned to form an angle therewith. It should be apparent that the sliver portion 52 shown in FIG. 2 when engaged by the member 56 and moved thereby will form a small acute angle. However, the position of the portion 52 of the sliver varies from can to can and the next can filled may have the sliver portion 52 extending at or positioned radially outward of that shown in FIG. 2. In such a case the member 56 moves a greater distance before it engages the sliver and the sliver when it reaches the clamping members 90 extends at a different angle to the slot 50.

In order to insure that the clamp members 90 will effectively clamp the sliver positioned at the various angles, the clamp members 90 are provided with the front portions 95 which converge toward each other and toward the radial slot 50. These front portions, when the clamp members 90 are actuated to their clamping positions, and due to converging portions 95 will clamp over a distance generally transverse to the radial slot 50. This provision will insure that clamping of the sliver will be effected even if the sliver is positioned or disposed at various angles with respect to the slot 50.

The air jet means 61 which blows. the broken sliver from the clamp members comprises a pair of openings in the bottom plate 43 disposed on opposite sides of the radial slot 56 and adjacent the clamping means 60 and which are supplied with pressure air exhausted from the piston and cylinder arrangement 57 upon completion of the work stroke via a control valve 101, a conduit 105, a conventional distributing valve 106 and conduits 107, 108. The sliver upon being clamped has a tendency to stick to the clamp members 90 and the air jet means will be effective to blow the sliver oif of the clamp members 90 as the clamp members 90 pivot from their clamping position to their non-clamping position during the return stroke of the support means 55 under the action of the biasing springs 102.

The control valve 101 alternately controls the flow of pressure air to the opposite ends of the cylinder 84 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 57 and to the distributing valve 106 and is a conventional two position solenoid actuated spool or slide valve, shown in FIG. 9. The valve 101 is actuated by a solenoid 110 disposed within a compartment 111 formed within the valve housing 112 and operatively connected to a slide valve means 115. Formed to the right of the solenoid compartment, as viewed in the drawings, the housing has a wall portion 116 comprised of a plurality of alternate lands and grooves. Slidably disposed within the wall portion are a pair of spaced pistons 117 and 118 which are adapted to be slidably moved to alternately be in contact with either lands 121 and 123 or lands 120 and 122, respectively. The housing contains an inlet passage 125 through which pressure air from any convenient or suitable source is supplied and an outlet passage 127 which is operatively connected via conduit to the air jet means 61.

The valve as illustrated in FIG. 9 is in the position it assumes when the solenoid is de-energized. In this position air is supplied from the source and passes through inlet passage 125 and out through conduit 82 to the right end of the cylinder 84 to move the piston contained within the piston and cylinder arrangement 57 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 9 and keep the support means 55 in its retracted position. The other end of the cylinder 84 is connected to exhaust via conduit 83, outlet passage 127, conduit 105, distributing valve 106, and conduits 107 and 108. The slide means 115 is retained in this position by a tension spring 130 having its ends secured to wall means 131 and piston 132 of the slide valve, which piston is slidablc within wall portion 133 of the housing.

When the solenoid is energized it will pull the slide valve to the left and iston 118 thereof will contact land and piston 117 will contact land 122, and the source of pressure air is connected through the passage to the other or left end of the cylinder and piston arrangement 57, as viewed in FIG 9, via conduit 83 to reciprocate the breaker member 56 through its working stroke. At the same time the air from the opposite end of the cylinder and piston arrangement exhausted via conduit 82 and outlet passage 127 and supplied to the air jet means 61 and in a manner hereinbefore described.

When the solenoid 110 is de-energized, the slide valve member 115 will move to the right due to the pull of tension spring 130. However, the movement to the right will be initially slow and then rapid, due to a built in time delay means, as will appear hereinafter. Disposed to the left of the solenoid compartment 111 is an end chamber in which piston 141 of the slide valve 115 is slidably received. The side wall of the chamber is suitably connected to the atmosphere via passage 143 and air regu' lator valve means 144. The end wall of the chamber contains a check valve 146 permitting air to escape to the atmosphere.

Upon energizing the solenoid 110 and moving the slide valve member 115 all the way to the left, as viewed in FIG. 9, the air contained in chamber 140 is emitted to the atmosphere via check valve 146 and the piston 141 covers the vent passage 143. Upon de-energization of the solenoid, the spring 130 pulls slide valve to the right. Since the areas of the various pistons are all equal, the various pressures acting against the various pistons will all balance out. This leaves the pull of the spring as the the only force acting on the slide valve. However, as the piston moves to the right, the air at atmospheric pressure trapped between the check valve 146 and the piston 141 will expand and thus, the pressure will drop to below atmospheric. The pressure to the right of piston 132 is atmospheric and thus, greater than the pressure to the left of piston 141 with the result that a force to the left, as viewed in FIG. 9, is effected. This force is always less than the force of the spring, but it functions to retard any rapid movement of the slide valve to the right. The slide valve 115 will not move rapidly to the right until it moves to the right of vent passage 143, which passage allows atmospheric air to rush into chamber 140 and thus, leaving the pull of the spring as the only net force acting on the slide valve. The primary function of the time delay means is to insure that high pressure air is supplied to the left end of the cylinder and piston arrangement for a certain length of time to insure that the support means 55 has been completely moved through its working stroke.

The operation of the apparatus of the preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the schematic diagram illustrated in FIG. 10. The various circuits employed for controlling operation of the apparatus are illustrated schematically as connected in parallel relation between power conductors L and L With the apparatus in the position shown in FIG. 2 with an empty container in filling position and with one of the lugs in engagement with switch 31 holding the switch contacts 31-1 and 31-2 open, the sliver is fed to the container. As stated before, upon every revolution of the wheel 36 of the yardage counter the trip means 37 thereof will contact and close switch 38. The switch .38 is located within a circuit including the yardage counter control 39 and upon being closed engages contacts 38-1 to send an impulse to the yardage counter control. The yardage counter upon receiving a predetermined number of impulses effects closing of contacts 39-1. Closing of contacts 39-1 completes a circuit from conductor L through contacts 351-1 and yardage counter relay control 200 to conductor L The yardage counter relay control 200 upon being energized effects closing of its normally open contacts 200-1 and 200-2. Closing of relay contacts 200-1 performs no function since these contacts are in circuit with now open contacts 31-1 of switch 31. Closing of contacts 200-2 effects energization of index relay 205. Index relay 205 upon being energized closes its normally open contacts 205-1 and opens its normally closed contacts 205-2. Opening of contacts 205-2 performs no function at this time.

Closing of contacts 205-1 completes a circuit from conductor L through contacts 205-1 and motor control 2111 to conductor L The motor control upon being energized indexes or moves support 24 of the can doffer mechanism. As the cans begin to index, lug 30 moves out of engagement with switch 31, which closes and effects closing engagement of contacts 31-1 and 31-2. Closing of contacts 31-1 completes a circuit including a reset counter control 215 between the parallel power conductors L and L since contacts 200-1 are still closed. The reset counter control 215 upon being energized resets the counter 39. The counter upon being reset opens contacts 39-1 which deenergizes yardage counter relay 200. De-energization of relay 200 opens contacts 200-1, causing de-energization of reset control 215, and also opens contacts 200-2. Closing contacts 31-2 energizes time delay relay 220 which is in a parallel circuit with the circuit containing the index relay 2 25. The time delay relay upon being energized closes its normally open contacts 200-1 and 2213-2. Closing contacts 220-1 and 31-2 com- 8 pletes a circuit from conductors L througlh contacts 31-2, 2213-1 and index relay 295 to conductor L to keep the index relay 265 energized.

When the cans are fully indexed, the next trip or lug member 30 engages and opens switch 31 thereby opening contacts 31-1 and 31-2 of switch 31. Opening of contacts 31-2 causes de-energization of index relay 205 which in turn causes opening of its contacts 205-1 causing the motor control 210 to be de-energized and also causing closing of contacts 205-2. The time delay 220 is set so as to effect closing of switch contacts 220-2 at this time. Closing of contacts 2115-2 completes a circuit from conductor L through contacts 205-2, now closed switch contacts 220-2 solenoid to conductor L and effect energization of the solenoid 110.

Energization of the solenoid 110 moves slide valve to the left, as viewed in FIG. 9, and reciprocates the breaker member 56 through the working stroke to break the sliver. The time delay relay 220 is timed so that it keeps switch contacts 220-2 closed for a predetermined time interval. Switch 220-2 automatically opens after the predetermined time interval and causes de-energization of the solenoid 110. The slide valve 115 of the control valve 101 then moves to the right and allows pressure fluid to flow to the opposite end of the cylinder 84 and causes the breaker member 55 to reciprocate through its return stroke.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that a sliver handling apparatus has been provided which is automatically operable in a rapid manner to break or separate sliver delivered by a coiler means to a can doffer mechanism upon a full can of sliver being indexed or removed remote from the coiler means and an empty can moved beneath it, and that the apparatus provided is of simple, but durable construction, conveniently located and reliable in operation. It is further apparent that a clamping means is provided which is constructed to insure clamping of the sliver even though it may be variously disposed. Moreover, the breaker member spreads the sliver upon engagement therewith to facilitate breaking thereof, and an air jet means to which pressure air is supplied for blowing off of the clamping means the ends of the broken sliver have been provided.

While the preferred embodiment has been described above with considerable detail, the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown, and it is my intention to cover hereby all adaptations, modifications, and uses thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A method of delivering sliver into a container comprising the steps of supporting a container in position to receive said sliver, feeding sliver into the container, moving the container from said sliver receiving position when a predetermined length of sliver has been delivered to the container and causing a portion of said sliver to extend from the container to said sliver receiving position, clamping said portion of said sliver at spaced locations and moving a member transversely of and through said sliver between said spaced locations to effect separation of said sliver.

2. An apparatus for successively delivering sliver into a plurality of containers comprising indexible support means for supporting one of said plurality of containers in a position to receive sliver and for effecting movement of said one container from said sliver receiving position and another container into sliver receiving position when a predetermined length of sliver has been delivered into said one container thereby extending a portion of sliver between said one container and said coiling means, coiling means for coiling sliver into said containers when in sliver receiving position, and means operable to effect separation of said sliver after said one container is moved from said sliver receiving position including means for clamping said portion of sliver extending between said one container and said coiling means at spaced locations and a member movable transversely of and through said sliver between said spaced locations.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said member is supported above said indexible support means by a support means and is movable relative thereto through an operating path from a retracted position to an actuated position and said clamping means is carried by said support means and disposed adjacent the path of movement of said member between its said positions.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said movable member is operatively associated with said clamp ing means to elfect operation of said clamping means in response to movement of said member from said retracted position to said actuated position.

5. An apparatus for breaking sliver delivered by a coiler means to an indexible can doffer means supporting a plurality of cans, the indexible can dofier means being operable to index a full can of sliver from adjacent said coiler means to a remote location thereby causing a portion of the sliver to extend from said full can to said coiler means and an empty can from a remote location to a sliver receiving position adjacent to the coiler means, said apparatus comprising a support member disposed above said can dofier means and having a slot formed therein which extends transversely of said portion of said sliver, breaking means disposed above said support member and including a downwardly extending member which extends through and beneath said slot, power means for reciprocating said breaking member between a first retracted position and a second actuated position, clamping members pivotally mounted on said support member and disposed on opposite sides of said slot along the path of movement of said member and between said first and second positions, said breaking member when moved from said first position to said second position engaging and carrying said portion of sliver toward said clamping members and actuating said clamping members to clamp said sliver on opposite sides of the slot and breaking said sliver upon it being clamped.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said downwardly extending member has a saw tooth edge.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the support member has a pair of complementary openings formed therein and through which the clamp members move when pivoted.

3. An apparatus according to claim 7 and including a spring means for normally biasing said clamp members to a nonclamping position.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said breaking member has a pair of cam followers secured thereto which engage the clamp members to pivot said clamp members to clamp said portion of sliver.

10. An apparatus according to claim 5 and including a plurality of apertures within said support member adjacent said clamping members and means for supplying pressure air thereto during movement of said breaking member from said second position to said first position to blow the ends of said sliver 01f of the clamp members.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said power means comprises a cylinder and piston arrangement operatively connected to said breaking member and a control valve selectively supplying pressure fluid to opposite ends of the cylinder and piston arrangement and wherein said pressure air supply means for the air jet means is derived from the fluid exhausted from said cylinder and piston arrangement through said control valve.

12. An apparatus according to claim 5 further including a hollow cylindrical support post for said support member and having a longitudinal slot in the wall thereof facing the downwardly extended member for housing the same when in its retracted position.

13. An apparatus according to claim. 5 wherein each of said clamp members has an end portion which converges toward said slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 255,473 3/1882 Tatham 19-159 2,370,465 2/1945 Higby 225- 3,083,415 4/1962 Osaki et a1 19-159 3,084,399 4/1963 Juillard 19157 3,134,144 5/1964 Still 19-159 3,246,371 4/1966 Tooka 19159 3,028,637 4/1962 Van Deusen 19--159 FOREIGN PATENTS 703,237 2/ 1954 Great Britain.

809,471 2/ 1959 Great Britain.

525,283 8/ 1940 Great Britain.

DORSEY NEWTON, Primary Examiner. 

2. AN APPARATUS FOR SUCCESSIVELY DELIVERING SILVER INTO A PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS COMPRISING INDEXIBLE SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE SLIVER AND FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE CONTAINER FROM SAID SLIVER RECEIVING POSITION AND ANOTHER CONTAINER INTO SLIVER RECEIVING POSITION WHEN A PREDETERMINED LENGTH OF SLIVER HAS BEEN DELIVERED INTO SAID ONE CONTAINER THEREBY EXTENDING A PORTION OF SLIVER BETWEEN SAID ONE CONTAINER AND SAID COILING MEANS, COILING MEANS FOR COILING SLIVER INTO SAID CONTAINERS WHEN IN SLIVER RECEIVING POSITION, AND MEANS OPERABLE TO EFFECT SEPARATION OF SAID SLIVER AFTER SAID ONE CONTAINER IS MOVED FROM SAID SLIVER RECEIVING POSITION INCLUDING MEANS FOR CLAMPING SAID PORTION OF SLIVER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ONE CONTAINER AND SAID COILING MEANS AT SPACED LOCATIONS AND A MEMBER MOVABLE TRANSVERSELY OF AND THROUGH SAID SLIVER BETWEEN SAID SPACED LOCATIONS. 